Pages

Tuesday, January 30, 2018

Sometimes athletes forget that rest and recovery can be an important part of their training. I have always been a fan of relaxing massages but since my pain tolerance is low, sports massages are a bit intense for me. I tend to stiffen up as the therapist works deep into my muscle. It seems to be a necessary evil as overused muscles can turn into a ball of energy that needs release.

Function 360 Physiotherapy offers many services, so I thought I would give myofascial release a try as an alternative to sports massage. On their website, it is described as "gentle sustained pressure to the myofascial connective tissue restrictions to eliminate pain and restore motion." I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. My friend, Marty, has treated me with Bowen Technique in the past but this treatment was not a sustained application of pressure.

Turns out foam rolling is a form of self myofascial release. There are other tools that can be used too to mobilize your soft tissue. Personally, I don't have the guts to foam roll once it becomes too painful. Think about why you foam roll though. You do it to improve your range of motion, reduce muscle soreness, and increase your mobility. Why not have a professional help you progress at a faster rate?

For my appointment, I met with Sonia at the clinic. We started off with a postural and range of motion assessment. She looked at my alignment while standing still and while performing squats. This gave Sonia an idea of how my body may or may not need adjustment. She noticed that my right shoulder was higher then the left, which I thought might be due to wearing my purse strap across my chest and on my right shoulder.

At the time, I was lucky enough not to have any major pains or injuries when I met Sonia. She did a general toe to head treatment. She started with my legs and feet and then worked her way up to my back, shoulders, and arms. From my experience, the treatment is a slow pressure gently moving across the skin with an occasional stretch. It wasn't so intense that I felt more, er, tense. It was really relaxing. I even had an eye pillow to keep the light out of my eyes while I laid on my back.

After my treatment, I felt very relaxed and a bit taller and more flexible. Sonia suggested a start a maintenance plan and book in once a month. So far, I have had two treatments and hope to book in a third soon.

Myofascial release is becoming more popular in scientific literature, as researchers are examining when and how it is most effective (which types of athletes, self myofascial release or as treatment from a qualified therapist, which body parts benefit most, how to quantify an improvement). Each body is different in terms of nutritional needs, rest requirements, and training methods. I like to try as many therapies as I can because I might find the one that helps me achieve a new PB. Hopefully in the next few years, we will know the best way to utilize myofascial release to maximize our athletic performance.

If you want to try out myofascial release yourself, get 15% off your treatment with my code #F360MM15 (you can actually use it for any treatment the Function 360 team offers). I am also leading a social run with Function 360 for Valentine's Day on Monday 12 February. Join us at 6:30pm for some informative talks about different therapies, ON Running shoes, and running. We will have prosecco too and discounts on Function 360 vouchers. Space is limited so please email info@function360.co.uk to reserve your place.

Thanks for Function360 for supporting me as one of their sponsored athletes. I will routinely be sharing my experiences with the Function360 team as I continue to prepare my body for the next challenge.

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

I am really starting to get excited about my upcoming holidays. The ski slopes of Verbier are getting dumped with powder, more women are signing up for our Kilimanjaro climb, and I am pretty sure I want to scuba dive in Thailand. There are so many adventures to be had and not enough time to plan them all.

Turns out when you travel to tropical places (which is something my husband and I rarely do), you need to do a bit of research and planning to make sure you are prepared with adequate vaccinations and medications. With my trips to Tanzania, Thailand, and Cambodia coming up, I contacted the Walk-In Clinic to see what jabs I would need to be safe.

You may remember that I had a wellwoman physical with the Walk-In clinic over the summer. I found utilizing a private practice gave me the luxury of time. I could talk to the doctor in depth without feeling pressured to fit all my questions in within the 15 minute time slot. Luckily for me, the clinic was able to book me in for to their travel clinic service with in a week. The clinic offers a consultation appointment, where you speak to someone to review what you will need, or simply request a vaccine that is unavailable at your local GP. They also have regional packages destinations such as Africa, India and South & Central America.

When I booked in, I was warned that I would need a consultation first and then a follow up appointment for my jabs. I took the this to mean a 15 minute conversation during which we would order my jabs and then a needle sticking session on another day. I couldn't have been more wrong. I had an entire hour to go through the travel advice website, NaTHNaC, line by line for my different destinations. My doctor and I discussed the benefits and possible side effects, plus what I have had in the past. We looked at all three countries, made a list and then reviewed the vaccine schedule for each as some require several doses at different time points to be effective.

My big tip, no matter where you are headed, is to book a travel clinic appointment six to eight weeks ahead of time in case your vaccine needs to be ordered, requires several doses, or it takes a while build immunity. In addition, you should know what vaccines you have had previously and when. Some vaccines will last your entire life while others need periodic updating.

For my Kilimanjaro trip, there is also a malaria risk below 1800 meters. My doctor was able to discuss the different medications available and what would suit me. The side effects of some can be scary, including depression and hallucinations. As I am already on a SSRI, this ruled out Lariam, which you only have to take once a week. We agree upon the antibiotic doxycycline, which is in the tetracycline family. In high school, I had horrible acne and was on tetracycline for a while. I don't remember any unbearable physical side effects (aside from being prone to sunburn) so I am very comfortable with the choice. The downside is remembering to take it every day and I have to keep taking it up for four weeks after my return. Our destinations in Thailand (Bangkok and Phuket) are 'low to no risk' which do not require malaria prophylaxis.

The last thing I wanted to discuss was altitude sickness. Out of everything that could possibly impact my trip, I am most worried about this. It seems to be very unpredictable as to who is affected. Fit, fat, skinny, strong, young, old- there is no way to know. Anecdotally, I have heard low blood pressure makes you more susceptible as well as not acclimatizing properly. People report feeling severely hungover with a bad headache, nausea, vomiting, and being really tired. For all the energy and planning I have put into this trip, it would be a shame not to see the sunrise at 5895 meters (19,341 feet). Unfortunately, the doctor didn't know much about the condition and could not recommend whether I should carry the medicine, let alone take it prophylactically. Crowd sourced side effects from my Adventure Queens Facebook group include pins and needles feeling and having to pee a lot. Since I am not good at peeing outside, this is a worry for me. My doctor was going to do a bit more research before my next appointment in two weeks time so we can talk about it again.

On this visit, I got Hepatitis A, a rabies booster, and cholera vaccinations. I would have got Hepatitis B too, but there is a global shortage of the vaccine. The cholera will require another dose at my next visit (which is just an effervescent drink) and meningitis. At the same time, I will pick up my prescriptions for my anti-malaria pills and altitude sickness tablets. Because most of my Kilimanjaro trip will be on the side of a mountain, we took greater precautions with more vaccines which will also cover my trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Remember though, it is up to you and your doctor to discuss and agree what is right for you.

If you have any experience with climbing and/or altitude sickness, please leave me a comment below with your experience. I am eager to learn as much as I can before the trip.

Many thanks to the Walk-In Clinic for their support of my trek to Kilimanjaro. Services provided were complimentary, but all opinions and views are my own. Please speak to your GP about your travel plans rather than follow my advice and experiences. I am not a medical professional, just a biology nerd.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

For a while, I have been in denial that a new year had started. I continued to eat and drink as I did in December, which meant I gained back the weight it took me 12 weeks to lose at the end of 2017. I was also in denial that I would stick to a fitness regime without any big races booked in for 2018. Finally, after a strong blogging game the last few months, I thought I would be cranking out content in January.

And I did nothing about any of it.

Not really nothing. I worried a lot, sat on the couch, drank Jack and Diet Coke after work, and basically carried on worrying about what I was doing to myself.

The fear held me back from making any changes.

As more time passed, the lower my self-esteem plummeted. I was getting heavier, un-fitter, and more insecure about my presence on social media and this blog. Maybe the fact that I lowered my anxiety meds contributed to me feeling frozen in time, unable to take action? Or maybe the jealously/admiration of my fellow fitness bloggers was just getting the best of me (seriously, they do some pretty amazing stuff)? It was a pity party for one and I was the guest of honor.

But then I went to a fitness class at Fitness Space in Wapping, where I saw some of my fitness friends. We did some HIIT, then stretched it out with yoga. Catching up over delicious food from The Fitology Kitchen, I realized that I do indeed have some exciting stuff going on and I just need to create the momentum again.

One of the things that motivates me is my passion for helping others find being active enjoyable and fun. As the Happiness Personal Trainer, I strive to inspire other people with ways to make healthy choices a positive rather than a negative.

Let me tell you, I too struggle with these choices. I have days that I want to stay on the couch eating raw cookie dough and watch Bridezillas with my dog (don't worry, he doesn't get any).

But I have come out of the other side now. Yes, it sucks that I took a month off and slipped down the slope a bit. I have made the decision to dust myself off and continue my journey towards health and happiness. It will be tough at first but I need to get ready for some busy months ahead. Being physically strong and more confident will make what I have lined up more enjoyable for all.

What changes am I making now that I have my mojo back?
First, I am unsubscribing to all the junk emails I never open. I have big FOMO with fitness studios and brands but I can't possibly buy everything I get pictures of, nor can I attend all the classes. I might miss a few cool things, but the fact my inbox won't explode every time I open it will help me feel less overwhelmed. It might seem like a small thing, but I hope removing these distractions will help me focus on connecting with clients and developing new relationships.

Second, I am donating and E-baying a ton of stuff. My husband and I had a major clear out and reorganised some of our flat which is making him very happy (I tend to have piles of stuff everywhere). It should also help me be organised with a new system and give me more opportunities to hoover and mop (to make my German grandmother proud). Lack of pride in the cleanliness of my home is another knock to my self-esteem. I am nearly 40 and struggle to keep shelves dusted and walls white. Getting a cleaner has been on my list of things to do for a while and I hope to book one soon.

To keep things on track, I am going back to my Kikki.K goal planner to focus on the following big goals:

Loose 10 pounds (the ones I gained back) by 29 March, when we head to Thailand for two weeks for my brother-in-law's wedding

Don't worry if you don't have a list of resolutions, intentions or goals for 2018 yet.

Don't worry if you sometimes lose your way.

Life ebbs and flows. In just one day, you can suddenly change direction. Or you can gradually find yourself on a different course after 365 days. Have faith in yourself and your abilities. Do what makes you happy. Don't be afraid to move the goal posts if you discover things aren't working out as you had planned.

What gets you going again after you fall off the wagon? Do you have tips on finding your mojo? Leave me a comment below so that we can help one another focus on standing back up again rather than drowning in the guilt of experiencing a setback. It can happen to anyone at anytime. And if it happens to you, please come back here for support and inspiration.

About Me

"Mollie is an amazing, positive motivator, just what you need when you are trying to become more active."

"By the end of the VTG I was exercising regularly and feeling SO much better about myself, my relationships and life in general."

"Mollie is an amazing trainer; with a real passion for exercise and enthusiasm in American size portions (congratulatory high fives are obligatory) that just rubs off on you even if you weren’t in the mood when you started."